Hopper closure assembly with telescoping gate and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A closure mechanism for a hopper bottom trailer is provided which utilizes a telescoping gate with a minor door and a main door. A method of using a hopper closure assembly which involves the steps moving the gate from a closed position to a partially open position by sliding a first section minor door over a second section major door and then moving the gate to an open position by moving the minor and major doors across the discharge opening. The method also includes the steps moving the gate from the open position to a partially closed position and then to a closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a closure mechanism for a hopper bottom trailer. Trailers used for handling grain or other bulk materials generally have a pair of spaced apart vertical sidewalls and a bottom wall having inclined front and rear portions. In the center of the bottom wall is usually mounted a hopper having a discharge opening at its lower end. In conventional trailer construction a longitudinal sliding gate which parallels a plane defined by the discharge opening is used to abut and close the discharge opening.

One disadvantage of the conventional sliding gate is that it is difficult to move when fully loaded with grain or other bulk materials. To move the conventional sliding gate a handle is typically provided and an operator provides the energy to move the gate.

Prior attempts have been made to make conventional sliding gates easier to move. The prior attempts have attempted to use a pendulum door system or a reduced friction system to assist in opening a hopper gate. These attempts utilize a single door gate that must be entirely moved to progressively open the discharge opening. The use of a single door gate is problematic because the size of the door is directly related to the amount of weight force encountered by an operator trying to open the door (i.e. the larger the door the more torque that is required to open the door).

Another attempt, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,013 to Nagy utilized two approximately equally sized doors that slide one underneath the other in a cost savings attempt to overcome the disadvantages of the well known difficulties of sectional gate arrangements wherein the sections are moveable from a closed position outwardly in opposite directions but with each section connected to a separate opening mechanism effectively doubling the opening mechanism expense (see U.S. Pat. No. 1,484,764). However, the Nagy patent fails to appreciate the ease of opening associated with having a smaller minor door that opens first and followed by a larger major door. Moreover, the Nagy patent teaches away from a stationary rotating shaft. Finally, the Nagy patent does not disclose a support structure suitable for a minor door that is smaller than the major door.

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a telescoping gate for a hopper bottom trailer which may utilize a small first door to partially open the discharge and then a large second door to continue opening the discharge opening.

A further objective of the present invention is a closure assembly that is easy to open using a rotating shaft attached to the gate frame.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a closure assembly which maintains the gate and gate frame of the closure mechanism in sealing engagement when closed.

A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of a closure assembly which is economical to manufacture, durable in use and efficient in operation.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following specification and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objectives may be achieved using a hopper closure assembly for opening and closing a discharge opening in a hopper containing granular material that has a gate frame surrounding the discharge opening and a gate moveable within the gate frame. The gate having a small first section and a large second section that telescope relative one another. The small first section is moveable from a closed gate position to a partially open gate position and the large second section is moveable from a partially open gate position to an open gate position.

A further feature of the present invention is an interface between the first section and the second section which permits the first section to move the second section.

A further feature of the present invention are front and rear stops upon the second section which permit interfacing with the first section.

A further feature of the present invention is a closure mechanism mounted on the gate frame through the gate for opening and closing the discharge opening.

The foregoing objectives may also be achieved with a hopper bottomed trailer using a hopper closure assembly. The hopper bottomed trailer being a semi truck trailer, a railway car, etc.

The foregoing objectives may also be achieved with a method of opening a hopper closure assembly utilizing a gate having a minor first section and a major second section. The steps including moving the gate from a closed position wherein the minor first section and the major second section covers the discharge opening to a partially open position where the minor first section opens the discharge opening to initially permit the granular material to move through a portion of the discharge opening. The method also including the step moving the gate from a partially open position to an open position wherein the major second section further opens the discharge opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a truck trailer utilizing a closure assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the closure assembly from a bottom perspective.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the closure assembly with the gate in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the closure assembly with the gate in a partially open position.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the closure assembly with the gate in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the closure assembly with the gate in an open position.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the closure assembly with the gate in a partially open position.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the closure assembly with the gate in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As seen in FIG. 1, the numeral 10 refers generally to a hopper bottom trailer having a forward end wall 12, rearward end wall 14 and opposite side walls 16. The hopper bottom trailer is designed to haul granular material 18. The granular material 18 may be grain (i.e. corn, soybeans or other agricultural commodity), coal, fertilizer, meal, meat scraps, other non-liquid material, etc.

Trailer 10 includes a kingpin structure 20 at its forward end which is adapted to be connected to the fifth wheel of a truck (not shown). Trailer 10 also includes a jack assembly 22 at its lower forward end which is adapted to support the forward end of the trailer when the trailer is disconnected from the truck.

Bottom members 24 and 26 extend downwardly at a slope from the top edge of each end wall 12 and 14 toward the center of the trailer to the bottom edge of side walls 16. Bottom members 28 and 30 extend downwardly at a slope from the center of the trailer to the bottom edge of side walls 16. Bottom members 24, 26, 28 and 30 slope at an angle conducive to the flow of grain or other bulk materials down the slope to the hoppers 32.

Hoppers 32 are provided on the trailer. Although a pair of hoppers 32 is illustrated, any number of hoppers may be utilized. Further, although it is described that the hoppers 32 of this invention are utilized on a trailer, it should be understood that the hoppers would also function satisfactorily on a truck body. While the elements 32 are shown as being a hopper, they are generally open top containers and could be an open top tank, bin or hopper for stationary use or as parts of ocean shipping containers or other mobile conveyance, for storing, transporting or processing bulk material and could extend upwardly a greater distance than shown in the drawings and comprise a larger portion of the entire trailer than is presently shown.

Hopper 32 includes a forward wall 34, rearward wall 36, and opposite side walls 38. The forward and rearward walls 34, 36 and side walls 38 extend downwardly and inwardly to form discharge opening 42

An exploded view of the closure assembly 44 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The hopper closure assembly 44 engages opening 42 and is moveable between a closed position, a partially open position and an open position. The gate 48 is shown exploded into individual components.

The hopper closure assembly 44 has a gate frame 46 and a gate 48 mounted to the gate frame 46. A closure mechanism 50 moves the gate 48 between closed, partially open and open positions.

The gate frame 46 has a first end wall 52, a second end wall 54 and first and second opposite sidewalls 56. These walls 52, 54, 56 define an opening to surround the discharge opening 42 of the hopper 32. A portion of these walls may match the angle of the hopper 32 walls. The gate frame 46 is attached to the hopper 32 by bolts, rivets, welding, or other fastening means.

The sidewalls 56 have an upper edge 58 that is turned inwards to form a raceway 60.

Additionally wheels 62 are mounted to the sidewalls 56 to accept the gate 48 traveling within the gate frame 46. The wheels 62 may be more closely spaced near the first end wall 52 because the gate 48 first opens from the first end wall 52. A bolt 64 placed through the wheel 62 and side wall 56 and nut 66 attached to the bolt 64 hold each wheel in place.

The hopper closure assembly 44 uses a closure generally referred to by numeral 50 to move the gate between the open position, partially open position and the closed position. The closure 50 has first and second pinions 68 connected by a cross bar 70. The pinion 68 may be made out of plastic with embedded lubricant thus making it self lubricating. The cross bar 70 extends outside the sidewall 56 to end in a shaft 72 (see FIGS. 3-8) that is approximately 1 inch long. Attached to the shaft 72 may be an elongated arm (not shown). The elongated arm is typically secured for rotation to the shaft 72 by a U-joint (not shown) so that rotation of the arm rotates the shaft 72 and in turn rotates first and second pinions 68. The shaft may be rotated manually, hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically.

The gate 48 has a minor first section 74 that is slidingly coupled to a major second section 76. The minor first section 74 is smaller than the major second section 76. The minor first section 74 is provided to make initial opening of the discharge opening 42 easier than both prior art one piece and sectional gates. The first section 74 is preferably less than 50% the total length of the gate, more preferably less than 25% of the total length of the gate 48, and, as illustrated, less than 17% of the total length of the gate 48.

The first and second sections 74, 76 together cover discharge opening 42. The first and second sections together operate to provide the gate 48 with a closed position wherein both the first section and second section 74, 76 close the discharge opening 42 (FIG. 3 and FIG. 8), a partially open position wherein only the first section 74 is moved to partially open the discharge opening 42 (FIGS. 4 and 7), and an open position wherein both the first section 74 and the second section 76 move to expose the discharge opening 42 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The first section 74 is smaller than the second section 76 thus permitting an easier opening of the small first section 74 thus requiring less torque of the closure mechanism 50 than if the user were opening a single large door beneath the discharge opening or a first section 74 that is the same size as the second section 76. Once the gate is in a partially open position with the first section 74 slid upon the second section 76 the material flows out and the door becomes easier to open.

As illustrated, the first section 74 has a first door 78 that is used to cover the discharge opening 42 and first and second side members 80 to seal the discharge opening 42. The first door 78 has a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion is adjacent the first end wall 52. The side members 80 cooperate with the wheels 62 to reduce friction as the gate 48 moves along the raceway 60. The first and second racks 84 are attached to the first door 78 and engage the pinions 68. Because o the diminutive size of the first door 78, a bar 86 extends between the two racks 84. Guidebars 94 are attached to the bar 86 and are used to slidingly connect the first section 74 with the second section 76 via holes in the rear stop 94.

The second section 76 includes a second door 88 used to cover the discharge opening 42. The second section 76 has a front portion 90 that may be covered with Teflon and/or another reduced friction surface 96 that permits the first section 74 to be slid under. As the first section 74 has its rear portion slid upon the second section front portion the first door 78 partially opens the discharge opening 42 until it reaches front stop members 92 (FIG. 4). The first section 74 then engages the front stop members 92 to transfer force from the first section 74 to the second section 76 to place the gate 48 in an open position in which both the first section 74 and the second section 76 move together to open the discharge opening 42 (FIG. 5). The operator may then open the gate to its furthest open position or an intermediate open position based on the desired amount of granular material movement through the discharge opening 42.

The operator may at any point desire to close the discharge opening 42 by reverse operation of the closure mechanism which turns the rack 84 in an opposite direction. As illustrated between FIGS. 6 and 7, the rack initially moves the first section 74 away from the first stop members 92 on the second section 76 and then abuts the rear stop member 94 thereby permitting the first and second sections 74, 76 to move together to completely close the discharge opening 42.

Other methods of moving the first section and second section relative to one another are anticipated. These methods include using two drive shafts 72, one drive shaft 72 powering two different drive racks, a cable system, etc.

Additionally, the second section 76 may include a Teflon strip 96 to permit less friction between the second section across the side members 80 of the first section 74.

Braces 98 may be provided on the first section and the second section to reinforce the strength of the gate 48. The braces 98 may extend the entire length of the gate 48 or a portion thereof.

In use, the operator uses the closure assembly 44 upon the hopper bottom trailer 10 by closing the closure assembly 44 while the hopper bottom 32 of the hopper bottom trailer 10 is empty. When the hopper bottom 32 is empty the operator easily rotates the elongated arm to rotate the pinions 68 to place the gate 48 against the gate frame 46.

The operator then moves the arm to a locked position where it will not accidentally disengage the gate 48 away from the gate frame 46.

As seen in FIG. 3, the operator is then free to fill the hopper bottom trailer 10 with grain or other granular material. As granular material 18 loads into the hopper 32 the granular material exerts force upon the gate. The granular material 18 exerts force upon the first section 74 and second section 76 in proportion to the surface area exposed to the granular material 18.

The operator empties the trailer 10 by opening the gate 48 on the hopper closure assembly 44. Initially, the operator moves the elongated arm to a position from a locked position to an unlocked position. The operator then moves the pinions 68 by turning the elongated arm to rotate the cross bar 70. As seen in FIG. 4, the operator will initially partially open the gate by moving a first section 74 to a desired opening to permit granular material flowing from the discharge opening 42, onto the ground, into an in ground auger, pit, conveyor, etc. The operator may then continue to open the gate 48 by moving the first section 74 against first stop members 92 which translate force from the rack 84 to move the second section 76 and, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, open the gate 48. The emptying will continue until the hopper bottom trailer is completely empty or until the desired amount of granular material 18 has been removed. As seen in FIG. 7, the operator may then partially close the discharge opening 42 by rotating the pinions 68 which partially closes the discharge opening 42 by moving the first section 74 forward until the rear bar 86 contacts rear stop members 94. The operator may then completely close the discharge opening with both the first section 74 and second section 76 moving together. The operator then moves the elongated arm to a locked position to prevent accidental opening.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims. 

1. A hopper closure assembly for opening and closing a discharge opening in a hopper containing granular material, the hopper closure assembly comprising: a gate frame surrounding the discharge opening; a gate moveably mounted to the gate frame from a closed position in covering relation over the discharge opening to an open position uncovering at least a portion of the discharge opening for removal of the granular material through the discharge opening; the gate having a first section and a second section; the first section having a minor door moveable from a closed gate position to a partially open gate position; the second section having a main door moveable from a partially open gate position to an open gate position.
 2. The hopper closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the first section engages the second section to move the second section.
 3. The hopper closure assembly of claim 2 wherein the second section has front stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the open gate position.
 4. The hopper closure assembly of claim 2 wherein the second section has rear stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the close gate position
 5. The hopper closure assembly of claim 1 further comprising a closure mechanism mounted on the gate frame to move the gate for opening and closing the discharge opening.
 6. The hopper closure assembly of claim 5 wherein the closure mechanism has a rotatable member; an elongated arm having a secured end fixed for rotation with the rotatable member of the closure mechanism and a free end extending alongside the gate frame; a rack resistively engaging the rotatable member so rotation of the rotatable member moves the guideway longitudinally; a raceway mounted on the gate frame; roller wheels attached to the gate frame and rollingly engaging the guide.
 7. The hopper closure assembly of claim 6 wherein the door frame has opposing side edges and opposing forward and rear edges; the raceway being mounted on the opposing side edges.
 8. The hopper closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the gate has a total length and the minor door has a length less than 50% the gate total length.
 9. The hopper closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the gate has a total length and the minor door has a length less than 25% the gate total length.
 10. The hopper closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the gate has a total length and the minor door has a length approximately 17% the gate total length.
 11. A hopper bottom trailer using a hopper closure assembly for opening and closing a discharge opening in a hopper containing granular material, the hopper closure assembly comprising in combination: a gate frame engaging the discharge opening; a gate operably mounted in the gate frame for longitudinal movement; the gate having a first section with a minor door and a second section with a main door; the minor and main doors each having a front portion and a rear portion; wherein when the gate is in a closed position the minor door front portion is adjacent the gate frame and the minor door rear portion is slidingly coupled to the main door front portion; wherein when the gate is in a partially open position the minor door at least partially telescopes upon the main door; wherein when the gate is in an open position the minor and main doors move together to open the discharge opening.
 12. The hopper closure assembly of claim 11 wherein the interface between the minor door rear portion and the main door front portion is reduced friction.
 13. The hopper closure assembly of claim 11 wherein the first section engages the second section to move the second section.
 14. The hopper closure assembly of claim 12 wherein the second section has front stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the open gate position.
 15. The hopper closure assembly of claim 12 wherein the second section has rear stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the close gate position.
 16. A method of opening a hopper closure assembly having a hopper containing granular material and a discharge opening below the granular material whereby the granular material by gravity has a weight force directed toward the discharge opening, the method comprising: providing a gate having a first section with a minor door and a second section with a main door covering the discharge opening; moving the gate from a closed position wherein the first section and second section cover the discharge opening, to a partially open position wherein the first section opens the discharge opening to initially permit the granular material to move through a portion of the discharge opening; moving the gate from a partially open position to an open position wherein the second section further opens the discharge opening.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second section is moved to the open position by engaging the first section.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second section has at least one front stop for engaging the first section.
 19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step moving the gate from an open position to a partially closed position wherein the first section moves relative the second section to partially close the discharge opening.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step moving the gate from a partially closed position to a closed position wherein both the first section and the second section move together relative the discharge opening. 